Condos, malls helping to transform Udon Thani

[Lite Beer]

URBAN FOCUS
Condos, malls helping to transform Udon Thani
Panyaporn Saithong
The Nation

Udon Thani: -- Already considered a "shopper's paradise", Udon Thani is becoming more like Bangkok with retail areas and new condominiums changing lifestyles to suit emerging trends.

"Udon Thani is considered a shopping paradise because the goods on offer are of premium quality and vary in grade-levels. This has enticed people from neighbouring countries to come [and shop] because the goods are of no less quality than that of Bangkok," Sawat Teeraratnukulchai, chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce said.

Many projects have opened in Udon Thani to include retail stores like Central Plaza, open-air malls like UD Town, as well as hotels, condo blocks and wholesale stores.

Condominiums in particular, Sawat said, would completely alter the way locals live. These projects were not yet complete and there was a large number of reservations for new condos.

He said the new projects in Udon Thani would change locals - make them more like city residents and economically improve society, so it was similar to the capital. This was because locals would have to adjust to the current situation and the fact land prices have become much more expensive.

But compared to Bangkok, Udon does not have problems in terms of traffic.

"People who live in condos bought them in the hope of being closer to their workplace or shopping districts. Some buy them as second homes," he said.

Unlike Bangkokians, who wish to avoid traffic by buying condos located next to the Skytrain, locals in Udon buy them for other reasons.

"… because they want to follow trends of the new generation. Some still have to drive to work or some just walk to their offices. Others buy them for their children.

"In the case of foreigners, they buy condos as places for vacationing because neighbouring countries like Lao PDR often use the international airport at Udon Thani.

"When they come here, these people do not need to stay in hotels but are able to move into their condos, which are much more comfortable, cheaper and safer."

Because locals were not afraid to spend money - for shopping, dining or and travelling - lifestyles had changed greatly.

Apichart Sinthuma, a manager of CP Land, said that "Kalpapruek Condominium" would be the first group to complete condos in the area.

He also revealed that the reason why many foreigners were buying condos in Udon Thani was because of its growing economy - believing that Udon was a port city in the northeast which would grow even more after the opening of the AEC, as it connects to neighbouring states such as Laos, Vietnam, and China.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Condos-malls-helping-to-transform-Udon-Thani-30238911.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-19

[bkkjames]

Get your aircon here- free aircon - as much as you can inhale - a lovely way to spend you weekend...

[CHRISTIANa9]

Try riding tuk tuk here. Most expensive in thailand.

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[PattayaPhom]

Never been but have been told its nothing but a dustbowl....We know why most expats go there and I dont think tilak would be happy about living in a condo rather than buying land/house in the village.

[Pinot]

My buddy just got married up in Udon. I asked him when are you going to be moving into the baan?

"Two weeks before I die."

[sanuk711]

1/ Never been but have been told its nothing but a dustbowl....-----Pattaya pom

2/We know why most expats go there ---and I 3/ dont think tilak would be happy about living in a condo rather than buying land/house in the village.

1/ What bar did you hear that in PP..........

2/ No enlighten us PattayaPom...why on earth would anyone leave a paradise like Pattaya to come here.

3/ No ones living in a Condo here --- as I write there aren't any--but you could have got that information by reading the article ............... Kalpapruek Condominium" would be the first group to complete condos in the area

[diggledunc]

I live about 90 kilos from UDT and go regularly. It has been transformed in the last few years. Shopping is great and the restaurant scene is getting better all the time. Full of Lao shoppers at weekends.

Lived in Khon Kaen and UDT is much better and more farang friendly.

Easy to walk round the centre and markets and in the week the traffic is not too busy.

Seriously this is no dustbowl but of course there will be better places. For the size of it UDT has very good facilities and many new hotels. If you haven't tried it don't knock it. Everybody has different tastes but it's worth a stay if you're in the north and of course the airport has great BKK connections. Very good if you are en route to Vientiane.

[ripper15]

Paving over paradise...Put up another parking lot. Sigh

[slipperylobster]

Udon has enough, for a slow, lifestyle. It gets awfully dry there, and the wind was like I felt in Arizona. That would be about March to July. Not much in the way of pollution. Hardly any factories, but the rubber industry towards Kut Jab would get your stomach turning. Sky is bright and sunny, much of the time. Soi Sampan has a few kicks (girlie market type) but the bars are unimaginative and quite dull, IMHO. A quiet man would probably enjoy it , as one would enjoy a retirement town in a semi-desert (dry) area of California. A mall, a few pools, a few gyms, a few big C's, a Makro....two or three of everything. Two parks as well. It could get old hat after a few years....it did for me. Lots of middle aged women that had previous farang/thai husbands are on the make there. Watch out for Mr Tong's Bar.....best late night hangout, but some freelancers that will chew you up and spit you out. The people are used to farangs....many there...but not many real tourists. People are genuinely friendly ..and simple. Some nice farm parties if you get out to a local wedding. They put up some stages and get some coyote dancers pumping. I enjoyed that.

[maxjay]

I relocated to Udon in 2005 to escape the growth of Jomtien/Pattaya. Only to have it follow me here to Udon.

Udon was sleepy Provincial Capital city back in '05. It was perfect for my needs.

Now it is a mess of a place, whose infrastructure can't keep up with all the growth, autos, etc.

Natural aesthetics, forget about it. They're whacking down large trees by the dozens. Paving over what little green was here.

The quality of ex-pat here now, continues to slide downhill. In 2005/2006, the expat community was a close knit group of friendly guys. IMO.

I often say and think, if the Udon of 2005/2006, was like the Udon of 2009-2014, I would've never moved here. What would have been the point?

[belg]

everybody suddenly rich that everyone can enjoy this luxerious way of living and spending

ah yes, the household debt is at a never seen high and non performant loans the same ... so let's increase that a bit more

[SunsetT]

Try riding tuk tuk here. Most expensive in thailand.

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But you can haggle...............and not get beaten up!

[SNGLIFE]

If you managed to buy into Udon 2010 or before, then you should do quite well. Land prices have risen 500% or much more in the better locations. Now, former "boonie" just outside Ring Road land is 2 million/rai on average and rises with each sale. Inside Ring Road is 50+ million or more per rai.

Condos are 70,000+/sqm pre-construction for the newer condos. The first condo project was 50,000/sqm and sold out in hours. Expect rentals will go for 20,000++ monthly for a 25-29 sqm flat.

[maxjay]

I relocated to Udon in 2005 to escape the growth of Jomtien/Pattaya. Only to have it follow me here to Udon.

Udon was sleepy Provincial Capital city back in '05. It was perfect for my needs.

Now it is a mess of a place, whose infrastructure can't keep up with all the growth, autos, etc.

Natural aesthetics, forget about it. They're whacking down large trees by the dozens. Paving over what little green there was here.

The quality of the average ex-pat here now, continues to slide downhill. In 2005/2006, the expat community was a close knit group of friendly guys. IMO.

I often say, and think, if the Udon of 2005/2006, was like the Udon of 2009-2014, I would've never moved here. What would have been the point?

After re-reading my post, and since it is too late to edit it, and I didn't want my post to be misunderstood...

Udon is just an OK place to live, for me anyway. Not a great place, just OK, IMO.

However, many ex-pats absolutely love it here.

But, "Condos, malls", etc., is not my cup of tea. I could care less about another shopping venue.

Condos are 70,000+/sqm pre-construction for the newer condos. The first condo project was 50,000/sqm and sold out in hours. Expect rentals will go for 20,000++ monthly for a 25-29 sqm flat.

And, therein ls another issue. The condos they are building here, are nothing more than glorified hotel rooms.

They are nothing like a "resort style condo", with a swimming pool, in-house fitness center, views, etc.

I don't think any of them are complete yet? At least I haven't seen any completed ones yet.

Edited July 19, 2014 by maxjay

[SunsetT]

I thought Thai law only allowed foreigners to buy condos legally in Bangkok and Pattaya and that u had to go thru all the rigmarole of forming a company etc., to do so anywhere else. Has this changed now?......... Anyone know please?

Me missus is from Udon so Ive spent a lot of time there over the last 8 years. Ive grown very fond of it. At first it was slow and felt more like a town which actually suits me. Its growth over the years, especially in traffic, has disturbed me, but Ive gotten used to it. Strangely enough in one way the increased speed and density of traffic in the centre has made it safer in that the impatient Thais do not/cannot any more just pull out in front of you anywhere at any time. They must now wait until there is a gap in the busy traffic flow and obey the lights (mostly!) or they are dead meat! The amplified noise levels became unbearable a couple of years ago, but this seems to have improved now and stops earlier at night. Everywhere I like to go is within walking or cycling distance from the quiet place I like to stay near the centre. The malls dont interest me but there is more and more choice of places to eat good and cheap food and drink. A walk around one of the 3 lakes satisfies my aesthetic need for an open green space, nice view and a bit of nature. I actually once saw a kingfisher on Nong Bua, something Ive never seen in the UK countryside! My only real concern which applies to any city is the traffic pollution but Im never there for more than 6 months.

[johndudorn]

Try riding tuk tuk here. Most expensive in thailand.

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Do not about your experience, but I have found the TT usually fair priced. I have a home here and have been coming to UT since 1973...

[losworld]

I relocated to Udon in 2005 to escape the growth of Jomtien/Pattaya. Only to have it follow me here to Udon.

Udon was sleepy Provincial Capital city back in '05. It was perfect for my needs.

Now it is a mess of a place, whose infrastructure can't keep up with all the growth, autos, etc.

Natural aesthetics, forget about it. They're whacking down large trees by the dozens. Paving over what little green was here.

The quality of ex-pat here now, continues to slide downhill. In 2005/2006, the expat community was a close knit group of friendly guys. IMO.

I often say and think, if the Udon of 2005/2006, was like the Udon of 2009-2014, I would've never moved here. What would have been the point?

It's really suprising to me that Thais cut down all the trees yet try to cover their faces when they walk in the sun. Modern Thai architecture is nothing but concrete and tangles of electrical wires. In fact Laos and Cambodia look better in many places with wide tree lined streets and clear sidewalks. Oddly, Bangkok has managed to keep more trees than Khon Kaen or Udon Thani or Pattaya. These cities would look 1000 times better with tree lined streets but I guess this would not leave enough space for all the food vendors and sellers blocking the sidewalks.

Looking at the Isaan topography I imagine it was once a great plain full of abundant wildlife including elephants, water buffalo, tigers and the like?

Edited July 19, 2014 by losworld

[Thai at Heart]

I relocated to Udon in 2005 to escape the growth of Jomtien/Pattaya. Only to have it follow me here to Udon.

Udon was sleepy Provincial Capital city back in '05. It was perfect for my needs.

Now it is a mess of a place, whose infrastructure can't keep up with all the growth, autos, etc.

Natural aesthetics, forget about it. They're whacking down large trees by the dozens. Paving over what little green was here.

The quality of ex-pat here now, continues to slide downhill. In 2005/2006, the expat community was a close knit group of friendly guys. IMO.

I often say and think, if the Udon of 2005/2006, was like the Udon of 2009-2014, I would've never moved here. What would have been the point?

Sounds a little like Khon Kaen. Not the farang issues but the infrastructure.

[CHRISTIANa9]

Try riding tuk tuk here. Most expensive in thailand.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

Do not about your experience, but I have found the TT usually fair priced. I have a home here and have been coming to UT since 1973...

Not sure what's fair price to you but I was quoted B200 to B400 for rides within the city. Say from one of the lake with night market to central. It's a long walk but I walked. And you get sunburn easily too in ut.

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[sgtsabai]

Prices are double for farang for tuk tuk and you can get a taxi for the same price. Oh wait, I forgot, we don't even have those, there is no electricity, no mcbarfs, no airport, all the roads are dirt, no cell phone towers, no booze, no bars, no ladies, no restaraunts, nothing, nada, zip, the cops are mean, Immigration police check for passports (for real), roadblocks (if we had roads) all the time, there is nothing here for anybody. Pattaya please stay the hell away.

[kerrysum]

I relocated to Udon in 2005 to escape the growth of Jomtien/Pattaya. Only to have it follow me here to Udon.

Udon was sleepy Provincial Capital city back in '05. It was perfect for my needs.

Now it is a mess of a place, whose infrastructure can't keep up with all the growth, autos, etc.

Natural aesthetics, forget about it. They're whacking down large trees by the dozens. Paving over what little green was here.

The quality of ex-pat here now, continues to slide downhill. In 2005/2006, the expat community was a close knit group of friendly guys. IMO.

I often say and think, if the Udon of 2005/2006, was like the Udon of 2009-2014, I would've never moved here. What would have been the point?

I certainly agree, been dealing with all of the area since the 70's , Udorn was a bunch of sleepy villages, lived in many different parts. I used to be the Jone's helping the Jone's.

But now it is the Jone's keeping up with the Jone's... It is affecting much of the Northern and mid-Thailand regions. What a shame! I sure miss the old Thailand... I was going to move there on retirement, but I have changed my mind. My wife is there now in Mukdahan, and hates it! The pint is the pound the world round.... Oh well, I guess it happens